24th Annual Mood Disorders Research/ Education Symposium

Start Date Tuesday, April 20, 2010
End Date Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Description Mood disorders are among the most common illnesses in the world. An estimated 20 percent of adults suffer from depression or bipolar disorder. Despite the availability of effective treatments, the majority of individuals never receive adequate treatment. In a recent national study, approximately 10% of those with major depression treated in primary care settings received sufficient treatment. This same study estimated that only 50 percent of those treated in specialty mental health clinics received therapeutic doses of medication for the required duration of care. This underscores the need for improved knowledge about mood disorders including barriers to care, factors that interfere with remaining in care, and the complexity of the diseases. Other studies have demonstrated that mood disorders can be successfully treated in primary care settings. Each year the Mood Disorders Research/Education Symposium strives to improve knowledge about and treatment of mood disorders. A major national initiative, the National Network of Depression Centers (NNDC), has been launched to foster collaborative efforts to address these gaps. This yearÕs symposium will feature speakers involved in the NNDC. Dr. John Greden, former chair of psychiatry at the University of Michigan and founder of the Michigan Depression Center, led this national effort. He will address the formation of the NNDC and review the collaborative care network and potential for evaluation of treatment effectiveness in real clinical settings. Dr. Frank deGruy, the chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado, will review methods for collaborative care in primary care settings with a focus on optimal assessment and treatment in non-specialty settings. This is particularly relevant as the majority of depression treatment is currently provided by non-psychiatrists. Dr. David Axelson, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh will review data from a major longitudinal study of mood disorders in children and adolescents and discuss issues specific to the diagnosis and treatment of mood disorders in this critical group. Dr. James Potash, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins, will describe current collaborative efforts to understand the underlying etiology of mood disorders through genetic research. His recent research includes the identification of a novel loci for major depression analyzing data from three major genetics studies of mood disorders. The clinical potential of this recent research will be discussed. Given that one of the major barriers to receiving adequate treatment is the failure to recognize depression or bipolar disorder, other speakers will address the presentation of the illnesses in a variety of settings. Col. Elspeth Ritchie of the United States Army will specifically address the challenges of recognizing and treating mood disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder in the military community. Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison, a nationally recognized author and Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins, will discuss historical perspective on mood disorders and a patient will be interviewed by the course director, Dr. Karen Swartz to demonstrate methods of examination and to review the signs and symptoms of mood disorders.
Sponsor The Johns Hopkins University- SOM
Contact Name The Office of Continuing Medical Education
Phone 1 410-955-2959
Fax 1 866-510-7088
E-mail cmenet@jhmi.edu
Website http://www.hopkinscme.edu/CourseDetail.aspx/80021010
Format Conferences, Lecture, Seminar
Location The Johns Hopkins University, Turner Auditorium
720 Rutland Avenue

Baltimore , Maryland
21205
Credit Hours 4.25
Credit Category 1
Price $135.00
Specialties Family Practice/Medicine, Neurology, Nurse Practitioner, Nurse
Objectives After attending this activity, the participant will demonstrate the ability to: - Discuss advancements in mood disorders related research - Analyze family strife, the economic burden, loss of productive careers and other personal dimensions caused by clinical depression and bipolar illness - Relate comprehensive and current information to patients and family members to help them cope and recover from these mood disorders.